The Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has described the statistics of road traffic fatalities in the metropolis as alarming, and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) will scale up interventions to reduce them.
According to a report launched by the national partners of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety(BIGRS) at a meeting, Accra recorded 34 per cent increase in road traffic fatalities in 2024.
The report said pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists made-up 86 per cent of all deaths, and that pedestrians accounted for more than half of the deaths, which underscored the vulnerability of non-motorised road users in the capital
It highlighted hotspots in Accra as Kwashieman intersection (N1), North Dzorwulu intersection (N1), Flat Top Junction (N1), Abeka Junction, and ABii National Junction on the J.A Kufuor Avenue, with nearly half of all fatal crashes in the city occurring on weekends, between 2000 hours and 2200 hours.
Mr Allotey in a speech read on his behalf at the meeting said, “These overwhelming numbers must stir us to double our efforts in various interventions.”
He said the AMA had re-introduced the ‘Red Line Policy’ to clear the pavements of hawkers to safeguard pedestrians, adding that, “The clearing of the walkways is a difficult task but a necessary decision to protect lives.”
The MCE said despite the rise in road fatalities, there were signs of progress in speed control, citing a decline in speeding from 49 per cent in March 2024 to 44 per cent in September 2024, largely due to road traffic laws and awareness campaigns.
He said motorcyclists remained the most reckless among the speeding category, recording 57 per cent and called on the Police personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department to intensify the laws against them.
Mr Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, who was at the meeting said his metropolis faced similar situations and called for improvement of streetlights, safe walking space, and public education to protect road users.
Mr Abraham Amaliba, the Acting Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority said road crashes had become more than a traffic management issue, describing them as a public health and national security concern.
He added that an estimated eight people, including children, lose their lives daily on Ghana’s roads, which also results in significant economic losses.
“Although we have recorded a slight decrease in speeding in both Accra and Kumasi, we cannot be complacent,” Mr Amaliba stated.
He called for stricter enforcement of licensing regulations and more consistent compliance checks on vehicles.
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